Australia to Reduce Incoming Int. Passenger Capacity from July 2021

[Lynda2475]

If ADF then I suspect a milisry bus. If para-olympians then they may need specialised cars

I was thinking more of when this is expanded to the general public.

 

[levelnine]

I was thinking more of when this is expanded to the general public.

You misunderstand the point of this trial. It is to give the public the appearance of progress, especially with respect to stranded Australians, not to make any meaningful progress this calendar year. The trial, review, report, consultation, re-review, second report, etc etc will take 6+ months, by which time the vaccination rates in Australia will be sufficiently high for there to be little risk to the general public. By then, they'll be happy to allow people to take taxis/Ubers to their home because both passenger and driver will be fully vaccinated.

 

[dajop]

And a bunch of celebrities granted exemptions, Dannii Minogue was allowed to home quarantine, most of the Hollywood types filming here too.

Although these, it would seem, were more akin to HQ at home for the rich, with special arrangements (eg 24/7 security) being paid for by the celeb/production company to ensure compliance with quarantine requirements. Way over and above any regular citizen could afford or could undertake. A couple in HQ pays $4k. If you have 24/7 security ensuring that no one comes or goes into a home, for the 336 hrs of quarantine, it's going to cost way more than $11.90/hr.

 

[roogirl]

Although these, it would seem, were more akin to HQ at home for the rich, with special arrangements (eg 24/7 security) being paid for by the celeb/production company to ensure compliance with quarantine requirements. Way over and above any regular citizen could afford or could undertake. A couple in HQ pays $4k. If you have 24/7 security ensuring that no one comes or goes into a home, for the 336 hrs of quarantine, it's going to cost way more than $11.90/hr.

The impact of that in combination with capped HQ has been pretty unedifying. Basically come and go as you please if you’re rich or a sportsman. At least dannii is an australian - seeing pictures of Natalie portman’s parents or zac efron’s brothers wandering around is pretty galling. I assume they all fled Sydney pre lockdown too.

 

[nancypants]

https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2021-03/Coming-to-Victoria-a-guide-to-permits-29-March-2021.pdf

It’s pretty clear, but that doesn't mean it won’t change if (for e.g.) Sydney airport itself became a hotspot

Ah beautiful, I missed that wading through the various pages on it all

 

[Flying mermaid]

Ah beautiful, I missed that wading through the various pages on it all

It’s not easy - the Queensland one is even worse!

 

[RAM]

The current "Clayton's home quarantine" trial in Victoria does not look promising.

Victorians have been allowed to home quarantine for 14 days when returning from Sydney.

The Vic authorities are doing a 'random' sample each day - visiting a venue once a day to see if the people are at home.

Trouble is the 'fail' rate is around 0.5% to 1% of daily visits finding people out & "active" in the community. Active = visiting multiple locations.

To put this into international arrivals perspective, this is 2 to 3 people on an A380 (remember those?), or 1 to 2 on a B777.

Having to wear ankle bracelets would stop this - I haven't seen any reference to those though?

I mentioned the 'phone location' method that was being discussed & without a moment's hesitation a 50 something friend replied,

"Simple, they'll just put their sim into an old phone & auto-fwd all calls so that it shows them at home whilst they're out & about. Cheating spouse's have been doing this for years.

 

[mviy]

They need to have an up front bond with random physical checks. Not home = lose bond. Simple.

 

[dajop]

The current "Clayton's home quarantine" trial in Victoria does not look promising.

Victorians have been allowed to home quarantine for 14 days when returning from Sydney.

This is not the first of such trials. Remember March 2020? It was "trialled" first then before HQ was introduced.

Unfortunately there's always going to be risk of people not staying home. But the latest concept is that if you are coming from a lower risk country and are fully vaccinated the risk of such a transgression is less likely to lead to an outbreak in the community.

 

[snabbu]

Someone just posted this on FB and I have no idea if it's genuine. My daughter, her partner and grand-daughter have J tickets on AA for 11th August. They sold their house and most belongings and are currently living in an Airbnb. Their 2 dogs & cat are supposed to flying out at the same time (not sure if on the same aircraft). I'm extremely worried now. Has anyone else heard anything or can verify if the attached is genuine?

I feel for them. We pondered exactly the same dilemma... do we sell everything we own here (house/cars/belongings/etc) move to an air bnb / hotel and hope we are able to board the flight we have tickets on? When it gets cancelled, when will we actually fly?

We were not prepared to go down that route so are staying put for now. Luckily we're in decent shape work wise and are not forced to come home, as much as we want to... it's just not worth the indefinite headaches/stress/etc.

Good luck to your family.

 

[RAM]

With today's revelation of CV escape from Sydney Quarantine hotel to Queensland - things are not looking too positive.

Qld media conference said that a mother & 12 yr old son, flew back from US after 3 month stay, completed HQ in Sydney & went back to Brisbane recently. 12 yr old felt ill within a day or so of return to Brisbane & tested 13th July (IIRC), result late yesterday. Father also has tested positive & was at work.

Qld also has an international airport worker (fully vaccinated by May) who's tested positive.

Questions to be answered:

Did the family catch CV from another person at the Sydney HQ or is CV now undetectable for 18+ days?

Real risk now that all international arrivals canned until purpose built quarantine facilities are up & running.

 

[Lynda2475]

Did the family catch CV from another person at the Sydney HQ or is CV now undetectable for 18+ days?

or at the domestic airport, or on the flight to QLD

 

[dajop]

Did the family catch CV from another person at the Sydney HQ or is CV now undetectable for 18+ days?

Surely, also can't discount the possibility of catching it during the course of travelling from HQ in Sydney to Brisbane either. It's not as if quarantine hotels are the only "hot" sites in the city any more.

 

[mviy]

I would not be at all surprised if in light of the NSW and VIC lockdowns, at National Cabinet tomorrow the Labor Premiers may decide to push for a further reduction in international arrivals caps even very briefly. Would not be surprised if VIC wants a brief pause in arrivals whilst they get on top of the latest outbreak in Victoria.

 

[PineappleSkip]

The 18+ days seems unlikely. Pretty limited exposure opportunities on the way from HQ to Qld. Catching it in HQ the most likely candidate but again chance of catching it there pretty limited also.

cheers skip

 

[Lynda2475]

I would not be at all surprised if in light of the NSW and VIC lockdowns, at National Cabinet tomorrow the Labor Premiers may decide to push for a further reduction in international arrivals caps even very briefly. Would not be surprised if VIC wants a brief pause in arrivals whilst they get on top of the latest outbreak in Victoria.

There would not appear to be any grounds for this since the positivity rate amongst arrivals has been falling. Many are arriving from countries with significantly higher vaccination rates than Australia.

From latest NSW surveillance report (over 50% of all commercial arrivals come home via SYD):





Only handfuls of people are arriving, so state should be able to mange them in addition to local cases.

 

[mviy]

I didn't see the recent reductions as making sense. So wouldn't be surprised to see a further reduction pushed for even though it would be unjustified.

 

[Flying mermaid]

I didn't see the recent reductions as making sense. So wouldn't be surprised to see a further reduction pushed for even though it would be unjustified.

As far as I can see most of the reduction last time was Queensland trying to deflect attention from their own shortcomings and the other two just jumped on the bandwagon. This time they can just blame NSW, so no need to go after the caps.

I think if they reduced them anymore commercial flights would just cease, so hopefully that doesn’t happen.

 

[Jacques Vert]

Real risk now that all international arrivals canned until purpose built quarantine facilities are up & running.

During the NSW Press Conference today, one of the reporters (didn't catch his name) asked Gladys if, as a result of the latest leak in HQ, all international arrivals should be suspended. It was pretty obvious that the reporter was in favour of no arrivals.

Surely we are better than this?

 

[roogirl]

During the NSW Press Conference today, one of the reporters (didn't catch his name) asked Gladys if, as a result of the latest leak in HQ, all international arrivals should be suspended. It was pretty obvious that the reported was in favour of no arrivals.

Surely we are better than this?

I think the one thing that has been conclusively established is that no, we are not better than this.